If you’ve amassed far more rods than you can use in a single day of fishing and you don’t have endless wall space for vertical storage, consider mounting hanging rod racks from the ceiling or rafters of your garage. Not only will this allow you to utilize what is generally wasted space, but it puts them in position to easily pick and choose exactly what you need for your next fishing trip.

Fishing trips and “unexpected equipment complications” seem to be joined at the hip. We put our gear through incredible stress, which occasionally results in failure, often at the worst possible times. The fishing industry is pretty good about learning from our mistakes and creating products to avoid or combat them in the future.

There are times when the old adage that “big bait = big fish” rings true — if you believe in that, Tackle Warehouse has a bunch of worms over 12 inches that may help you catch the largemouth bass of a lifetime.

I know that “screen time” is the best way to get better. with Livescope. I’m still working to consistently locate my bait and judge what the fish in front of me are doing. Not surprisingly, the creatives in the fishing and boating biz have developed some others. Here are a few you might consider.

After a brief hiatus in which life (and time on the water) seemed to repeatedly get in the way, our friend Tej Sawhney is taking on a limited number of custom paint jobs again. It’s something that’ll help him pass the brutal Pennsylvania winter, when he depends on the kindness of others to get him out on their jet boats to chase big smallmouths.

As we head toward the 2023 Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville, the 2019 iteration of the big event seems like a lifetime ago. Since then, we’ve gone through “the split,” COVID, and three more Classics. This time the derby will be a few weeks later in March, and we’ve had a relatively mild winter, but if you’re looking for early hints of what could happen, consider some of the following lure choices.

Four-time Bassmaster Classic winner Kevin VanDam is a master of spinnerbaiting for clear water smallmouths up north. Here’s a video where he describes his system for getting them hooked and keeping those spastic bronzebacks buttoned up.

For the most part, modern lure staples are better than their discontinued predecessors. They are better engineered, with better components. At the same time, there will always be past versions that are proven or perceived to be better – like the old school Wiggle Warts that command a handsome price. Here are a few that have come back or been improved upon in recent months.

One of the struggles of packing for any fishing trip where you’ll be flying to your destination is making sure that you have ample tackle. That’s why it’s often important to pack “utility players” like soft plastic craws. One other such set of multitaskers is the group of smallish (usually 4- to 5-inches) group of soft plastic swimbaits,

Obviously, certain soft plastics like Senkos, lizards and big worms are no brainers any time you’re heading South of the Border, but the heavy emphasis on those groups occasionally obscures another category that you MUST pack if you want to be efficient: soft plastic craws.

I technically don’t need to purchase another item of anything but I’m going on another Half Past First Cast adventure to Guatemala and of course I’ve added a few new retail therapy efforts to make the trip even more memorable.

The great thing about trolling for sailfish is that you can be as involved as you want. The captains and mates at Casa Vieja Lodge are happy to instruct you, and also to let you take control of the “bait and switch.” Alternatively, you can just reel in one sailfish after another. In all likelihood you’ll probably live somewhere in between those two extremes.

Tackle Warehouse has historically been diligent about stocking premium products, including a long list of multi-piece rods ideal for travelers at any budget. That has included sticks from Megabass. Recently they added the Megabass Valkyrie World Expedition travel rods – two spinning rods and six casting rods including several lengths and strengths that are otherwise hard to find in multi-piece tools.

We spend a lot of time picking out our clothing for fishing. Much of it serves distinct purposes. Whether it’s choosing a comfortable, breathable and dry rainsuit or shoes that won’t leave you with lower back pain, making the right choices can be critical to fishing success and health. Yet few of us give much thought to the skivvies we wear on the water.

The ultimate Hallmark holiday is fast approaching, and if you want to show the traveling angler in your life that you really care, chocolates, flowers or a new necktie won’t cut the mustard. You don’t need to spend a lot, but be sure to get them something that will be useful – that way they’ll associate YOU with great times on the water.

Hanna and I get asked about the best swimbaits for big Mexican bass all the time, and while we can give some generalized answers, we’ve long been in search of a true expert to advise us. We found that person in Chad Meenan, one of the handful of gringos who fishes South of the Border more than we do.

The Gan Craft Jointed Claw. It’s a JDM product that like the Bull Shads can be had (in some sizes) for less than $100. The Jointed Claw is available in a wide variety of colors domestically, as well as some that are harder-to-find. Now they’ve introduced two Tackle Warehouse exclusive patterns for the US market – Brilliant Trout and Gorgeous Shad.

Valentine’s Day is an important opportunity to show someone that you really love them. Below are some red baits, accessories and apparel that are time-tested. Any angler who receive these gifts would feel extra special.

Now that I’ve owned 7 high-performance bass boats, ordering 5 of them new from Bass Cat, I feel that I have a pretty good idea of what I want out of the gate. Nevertheless, there are always a few add-ons that I either can’t get from them, or that I realize I want/need after the delivery date. Here are 3 such items that I’ve paid retail for since taking delivery of my Puma STS.

My brother and my two nieces were kind enough to stop off at the Sansui tackle shop during their stay in Tokyo — and they brought me home a “care package.” Check out what’s inside.